A bad break may have been the best break in the rapid
maturation of Kyle Turris from dreamer to determined NHL prospect
and a projected top-three entry draft pick Friday in Columbus.

A bad break may have been the best break in the rapid maturation of Kyle Turris from dreamer to determined NHL prospect and a projected top-three entry draft pick Friday in Columbus.

In the first shift of his first game at the Junior B level, the 15-year-old centre broke his left wrist and was sidelined for two months. In the interim, he toured NCAA schools. Witnessing the competitive level and addictive atmosphere sold the New Westminster native.

"It actually worked out for the best because when I saw Wisconsin play Denver right away I knew I wanted to go there," recalled the Junior A Burnaby Express star, who was second in BCHL scoring last season with 66 goals and 121 points. "The atmosphere was just nuts and Wisconsin is a good academic school."

The plan was permanently in place.

Despite the Vancouver Giants owning his WHL rights and dangling a Memorial Cup experience as host club, Turris had tunnel vision. Nothing was going to distract the amiable 6-foot-1, 176-pound prospect from his goal.

Even though the polite Turris sports a smile and is often giddy about a game he never considers a chore, don't misread the jokester. His pre-game ritual includes mellow music, a cold shower and indoor soccer to stay loose, but when the puck drops he's all business.

Turris doesn't even have time for a girlfriend.

"I'm pretty focused," said Turris, who turns 18 on Aug. 14. "I know there's a time to joke around and have fun. And there's a time to get things done, be serious and be a leader.

"When someone needs to step up and we need a goal, I'm going to try and be that guy, and also communicate between the coach and the team. Anything to help us win and for me to be a better player and person."

Turris does everything in the game at speed, and willingly spends extra time adding to his offensive artistry.

He wears No. 19 because his father, Bruce, wore it as a lacrosse star with the Vancouver Burrards and Coquitlam Adanacs en route to a national Hall of Fame induction. Turris also marvelled at Steve Yzerman's determination and wears the number in his honour.

With a national Junior A championship and MVP honour in 2006, Hockey Canada exposure on the international stage, exhaustive dry-land training to add strength, plus a strict diet, Turris has the foundation to build on.

"He's the best I've seen in this league and I've been involved with it for nine years," said Express general manager Darcy Rota, who played 11 NHL seasons with Chicago, Atlanta and Vancouver.

"Kyle is such a dynamic player who passes well and has a great release. He really is the whole package."

Not only will the St. Thomas More grad play for the Badgers this fall and study business, he could become the first B.C.-born player to top his draft class.

If Turris goes first overall to Chicago -- the Blackhawks also covet OHL sniper Patrick Kane and U.S. national program winger James VanRiemsdyk, and could also trade down -- he'll surpass Barry Beck and Ryan Walter.

In 1977, Beck was selected second overall by Colorado and a year later Walter went second to Washington. None of this surprises Rick Lanz. The former NHL defenceman played 10 seasons for Vancouver, Toronto and Chicago and coached Turris the last two seasons.

"He's a special player and his creativity and imagination give him a platform for something he just loves to do," said Lanz, who'll coach Victoria of the BCHL next season.

"He'll pull the puck in and then just use that brief moment to kind of draw the defender in and then just jump around him. And then he'll quickly release the puck into an area six inches by six inches in the short side of the net.

"To do that once or twice, you think, 'OK, that was great.' He did that on a consistent basis. Going forward a year or two, it's kind of scary how good he can be."

Turris rose from No. 5 at midseason to No. 1 in the final ranking of North American skaters by the Central Scouting Bureau. In a World Challenge game against Russia last November, Turris had four goals and twice hit the post. Needless to say, the scouts were impressed.

"He has the ability to control the flow of the game," said one scout. "He isn't afraid to take a hit and can perform under pressure."

McKeen's Hockey forecasting has Turris second while the International Scouting Service ranks him third.

Turris took to athletics early and also excelled in lacrosse and football. By age 14, lacrosse games with the junior New Westminster Salmonbellies conflicted with hockey practice. It also meant an end to three years as a quarterback, but accelerated his hockey learning curve.

"I'll go to open ice for hours and fool around and just bounce the puck off the wall and over my head and hit it with my stick," said Turris. "I love practising, kicking it to my skates and back and forth and coming up with new moves that will surprise somebody in a game.

"My vision and creating opportunities are the best parts of my game. But I need to work on my strength."

Turris is surprised at his rapid ascent. It seems like only yesterday he and minor hockey buddy Colton Gillies -- the Surrey native plays for Saskatoon of the WHL and will be a first-round pick Friday -- were travelling to summer tourneys.

This fall, Turris will room with Minnesota high school star defenceman Ryan McDonagh, another projected first-round draft pick Friday.

"This has all happened so fast," said Turris. "I came into last year just hoping to get drafted in the top two or three rounds. All this attention has almost been surreal. I can't wait for next year.

"There's no expectation like the last year where you hear you've got to put up 100 points. But I want to set the bar high."

Lanz believes the sky is the limit for Turris.

"I think he'll be there [Wisconsin] one year and on his way [to the NHL]," predicted Lanz. "He's never been anything but respectful, and if you replicate that attitude throughout your team, you'd have a tough time losing.

"It was never a chore for him to come to the rink to put on a good sweat and play. On a mental level, that's a very lethal combination."

PREVIOUS HIGH PICKS FROM B.C.

Burnaby Express star Kyle Turris of New Westminster could be the first B.C.-born player to be selected first overall in the NHL entry draft. Here's who came close:

Pick Year Team Player Born

2 1977 Colorado Barry Beck Vancouver

2 1978 Washington Ryan Walter New Westminster

3 1982 Toronto Gary Nylund Surrey

4 1993 Anaheim Paul Kariya Vancouver

4 2004 Carolina Andrew Ladd Maple Ridge

-- Kuzma

DRAFT WEEK!

Hockey writer Ben Kuzma reports on the NHL entry draft all week, and will be in Columbus to tell you how the Canucks fare Friday and Saturday. Coming Tuesday: Burnaby native Karl Alzner, the best available defenceman in the draft, has plied his trade for the Calgary Hitmen. He spends his free time designing his own clothes.

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